Electrical binding post



Dec. 4, 1928. 1,694,239

0. H. THONSEN ELECTRICAL BINDING POST Filed May 2 9, 1925 mm! EHWZSEIZPatented Dec. 4, 1928.

"UNITED STATES CHARLES H. TI-IONSEN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL BINDING POST.

Application filed May 29, 1925. Serial No. 33,?l2.

This invention relates to improvements in electrical binding posts. Theprincipal object of the invention resides in a binding post orconnector, to which an electrical wire may be quickly attached orremoved. 7

Another object resides'in a binding post which includes a stationarypart and a movable spring pressed part normally eoacting with thestationary part to clamp a conductor wire therebetween, and a means forholding the movable part against the action of the spring and out ofclamping engagement with the stationary part to allow a person to useboth hands for positioning the wire for connection. Heretofore, inbinding posts of this type it has been necessary to hold the movablepart with one hand and apply the wires to the binding post with theother hand.

A further object is the provision of abinding post which is simple inconstruction cheap of manufacture and easy of operation.

. With these and other objects in View, the

invention resides in certain novel construction and combination andarrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafterfully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims,and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of my improved binding post showing the manner of lockingan electric conductor thereto.

Figure 2 is a similar view but showing the clamping member locked in araised position.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View therethrough showing the parts inthe same position as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View on the line H of Figure 1 withthe conductor removed.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a slightly modified form of lockingmeans.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the reference numeral 10designates my improved binding post in its entirety and which includes astationary part 11 and a co-acting movable part 12.

The stationary part 11 comprises a post 13 provided with a head 1 1 atone end and an annular flange 15 fixed thereto at its other end. Theflange 15 is adapted to rest flat against a support 16, when applied foruse and is held thereagainst by a screw 17 c0- acting with the threadsof a recess 18 in the lower end of the post, and which screw passesthrough a support 16. A conductor wire 19 has one of its ends heldbetween the head of the screw and the adjacent surface of the supportand which constitutes one of the pair of conductor wires adapted to beelectrically connected. The post 13 and the screw 17 areof a conductingmaterial for transmitting the current to a readily removable wire 20,the free end of which passes through a horizontally disposed opening 21in the post 13 disposed above the flange 15. If desired, the wires maybe twisted about the post when making the connection but this isoptional.

The wire 20 is held in clamped position with the stationary part by themovable part and which latter includesa clamping member 22 of insulatingmaterial and which is slidable over the post. 13. The member is cupshaped in cross section and has its inner walls cylindrical forreceiving the annular head 14. The member is normally held inclampingengagement with the wire 20 by an expansion spring 23 whichencircles the post 13 and is interposed between the head 14 and thelower end wall of the member. The clamping member 22 is held underpressure against the wire 20 when the connection has been effected andprevents the wire 20 from accidentally becoming separated from the post.

In order to hold'the clamping member 22 in a raised position against theaction of the spring 28, I provide the head 14 of the post with anoutwardly projecting pin 24, movable in a cam shaped slot 25 formed inthe side wall. of the member. The walls of the slot are disposeddiagonally with respect to the vertical axis of the clamping member,while a relatively horizontal slot 26 communicates with the cam slot 25for receiving and holding the pin after the cap member has been moved toa raised position. It will be seen that by applying rotary movement ofthe cap member in one direction, the inclined walls of the cam slot willcause the member to rise against the action of the spring and upon thelimit of the turning movement, the pin will be disposed in thehorizontal slot 26, thus locking the member in an elevatedpositiomto-permit the wire 20 to be inserted or removed from the post 13without requiring the use of one hand of the operator in holding themember in a raised position, while grasping the wire with the otherhand.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that when the clampingmember is in a lowered position, the wire 20 is securely fastened to thepost and assures a positive connection of the wire which prevents thesame from working loose.

In Figure 5 of the drawings, I have shown a slightly modified form oflocking means, which is quite similar to that shown in the preferredform, but wherein the pin 24 enters a bayonet slot 27 formed in the sidewall of the clamping member. In this form, it is necessary to lift theclamping member vertically until the pin aligns with the horizontalportionoi' the bayonet slot and then impart a slight turning movementthereto. It will be remembered that in the preferred form, it wasnecessary to impart only a rotary movement to the clamping member whichautomatically causes the raising of the clamping member.

\Vhile I have described whatI deem to be the most desirable embodimentof my invention, it is obvious that many of the details may be variedwithout in any way departing from the spirit of my invention, and Itherefore do not limit myself to the exact details of constructionherein set forth nor to anything less than the whole of my inventionlimited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is i 1. An electrical connector comprising a posthaving a head, attaching means for securing said post to a support, aclamping member slidable over said post, said post provided with anopening for the reception of one end of the wire to be connected, aspring interposed between said head and one end of said clamping member,and co-acting means between said head and said clampin member forautomatically lifting and holding said clamping member in a raisedposition against the action of the spring upon rotation of said clampingmember, said co-acting means including an inclined slot provided in saidclamping member and disposed at an angle with respect to thelongitudinal axis of said post, and a pin carried by said post andextending into said slot, said slot having an angular ofi'set at oneendthereof.

A binding post for electrically connecting the ends of a pair ofconductor wires comprising a post having a head, attaching means forsecuring said post to a support and b which one of the wires is adaptedto be hel a clampin member slidable over said post and rotatablethereon, said post having a wire receiving opening therein for the otherof the wires to be connected, an expansion spring interposed betweensaid head and one end of said clamping member, andco-acting meansbetween said head and said clamping member for locking said clampingmember in a raised position against the action of said spring upon themanual movement of said clamping member to the limit of its outwardmovement and upon partial rotation thereof.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

CHARLES H. THONSEN.

